Matteo Varsi‘s photography lies somewhere between photography and literature, between now and then, the physical reality and a romantic vision of the world. The medium – primarily pinhole and polaroid cameras – and his use of expired instant film is merely a means to an end, to find a visual poetry in the everyday, to capture the light of a timeless space in which memories live and breathe, a place that beings to mind the sub-conscious, the ephemeral, the abstract.
Instant photography allows Varsi the opportunity to pursue the tone of his stories, the colours of his ideas and more importantly allows space for change, for accidents to happen over which he has no control. This matter of control is a fundamental part of his work. Here’s what he said about his process in Posi+tive Magazine:
[accidents] are an added value, a kind of a signature or faith sign and something out of my control. If I had everything under control, it would be so boring! Polaroid expired effects help make a picture precious, distinctive and unique. I am always analyzing how defects can become strengths. I don’t like to manipulate pictures as they develop as I am a great fatalist! The editing process takes part in my head before the shooting.
The most fascinating challenge is how to create “art” with a 5 euro plastic camera and with expired instant film. I don’t want to get closer to photography, but just lie floating in a dimension where instant is blended with photography, reality and non-reality. Polaroid gave to me this amazing chance.